Wide range cassette is engineered for 10-speed systems

Update: June 8, 2015

The Praxis Works 11-40 cassette is now a reality and is available for purchase. We’ve received it and have started using it. Packaging is top notch and it is everything we’ve expected so far. Manufacturing quality is excellent and shifting has been flawless so far. Look for an update from us shortly. $130 MSRP from your retailer.

Wide range cassette at the Taipei Show (click to enlarge).

Update: March 18, 2015

We just received new information fresh from the 2015 Taipei Cycle Show. The price for this cassette is now set at $129.99 retail. Weight is 320 grams and the expected availability date is June 1.

This is delightful news indeed as the price point of $130 is reasonable for a quality item that needs to be replaced periodically. The big two aluminum rings will not be replaceable by themselves unfortunately since that will open up inconsistencies with shifting performance.

This is a welcome upgrade indeed for the rest of the bikes in the garage. 1x, 2x, Expert riders and novices can all benefit from this cassette from Praxis Works.

On our visit to Praxis Works last week, we saw a lot of very trick chainrings and cranks. Praxis has been growing and bursting out of the seams with its forged aftermarket and OEM rings and 3D hollow cranks under the brand ‘Turn’.

But the product that intrigued us the most is this 11-40 10-speed cassette that they are close to releasing. They were very guarded about it, but finally allowed us to release some information about it.

10-Speed Wide Range Cassette close-up (click to enlarge).

It is a wide range cassette specifically designed to address the needs of Narrow-Wide 1×10 drivetrain users who want a lower gear, but do not want to sacrifice their shifting quality. The cassette has optimal spacing to give it good shifting performance with existing derailleurs and wheels. Since the cassette is designed and built exactly for this purpose, there are no gaps in shifting or abrupt jumps in pedaling cadence.

The Praxis Works 11-40 cassette is seen here with the Praxis chainrings and Turn cranks and BB (click to enlarge).

40 teeth is where they found they could maximize the cassette size for low gear climbing. 42 is simply too much for current 10-speed derailleurs and it compromises shifting according to Praxis.

We rode it around the parking lot and it indeed shifted well. Shifting was fluid and consistent both up and down, under power. The low gears are widely spaced and the higher gears get a tighter cluster for smoother transitions at speed.

The Praxis Works 11-40 cassette is specifically designed for 10-speed systems (click to enlarge).

Available details from Praxis Works

Praxis Works Aftermarket 11-40T “Wide-Range” 10-speed MTB Cassette

For SRAM/Shimano Mid or Long cage RD only

Smaller cogs Steel and upper cogs Aluminum

Summer 2015 availability. Sooner if possible

Designed with goal of proper, no sacrifice, ‘Wide-Range’ 10-speed MTB cassette for consumers. Shifting integrity was priority

We did NOT want to be just another ‘Expander/Adaptor’ that many riders are resorting to. We wanted a full proper cassette

Weight is approx. that of an XT cassette. Works on any 10-speed MTB wheel with no ‘rigging’ or ‘adaptors.’ It’s as simple as installing and adjusting your RD

More specifics and AFT pricing to coming soon

We are very excited to see this product come out this summer. It has significant implications to the 1×10 market, as wide range 10-speed shifting will be improved and simplified. We’re also convinced that 2×10 users will benefit as well. They can stay on the bigger ring longer and the front chainring sizes can be optimized for closer range, better shifting and transition performance.

The founder of mtbr and roadbikereview, Francis Cebedo believes that every cyclist has a lot to teach and a lot to learn. "Our websites are communal hubs for sharing cycling experiences, trading adventure stories, and passing along product information and opinions." Francis' favorite bike is the last bike he rode, whether it's a dirt jumper, singlespeed, trail bike, lugged commuter or ultralight carbon road steed. Indeed, Francis loves cycling in all its forms and is happiest when infecting others with that same passion. Francis also believes that IPA will save America.

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Not sure how they can claim no changes to the RD are necessary. Cranking the b-screw/changing the cage/adapter bracket is required for the derailleur to properly shift around the 40t cog, it has nothing to do with how well the cassette is designed or how well the gears are spaced. Besides the gap in gearing, the reason shifting suffers is because the b-screw has to be turned so far in which ends up putting the der in a poor placement primarily for tall gear shifting.

But other than that it should be a high demand product if its as robust as the OEM cassettes. I wonder if this market will start to shrink quickly once an XT/SLX level 11 spd setup becomes available.

I think the 40T might be the upper limit for a stock Shimano RD. I’ve run both Shimano Shadow Plus and SRAM Type 2 with a 42T cog. If I had a Shimano RD…I’d for sure get the RADr cage from OneUp of that new link from Wolf Tooth. In stock form…the Shimano RD shifted extremely poor in the three high cogs. SRAM you can use it stock with either 40 or 42 with no changes. SRAM works without any modifications mainly due to the offset upper rear pulley. Its shifted back of the cassettes where the Shimano sits below the cassette.

I’m not sure why Shimano hasn’t released 11X40 cassettes, they work with Zee short cage mechs. I guess they are still selling tonnes of XT 11-36 for the expander ring aftermarket so they don’t care. I wonder how they are going to respond to aftermarket 11-40 cassettes?

sounds great! Can’t wait to see one. I have tried a 42t extender (on a 1×10 with a narrow/wide front ring) and scrapped it because the shifting gap was too much and shift quality was never what I needed/wanted it to be. So i’m now just running 11-36. I have purchased a 40t cog and I’m thinking about installing that; but I’d much rather have a true 11-40 purpose-built unit.

“One Ring to Rule them All”, wait, thats something else. A single front ring was to simplify things, now the “BS” has moved to the rear. I liked the Hammerschmidt solution but for some reason cross country bikes didn’t.

Just got mine and put it through some real world riding on a 5K+ climb day here on our trails in Santa Cruz CA. I did three steep 1200 foot climbs of 11% plus grade and up to 25% in some spots and a longer gradual grade climb with the PraxisWorks Narrow Wide 32T up front and the PraxisWorks Wide Range Cassette. Shifts have been crisp and clean and this gearing allowed me to climb without walking up the hills while still having a tall enough gear to get me up to speed on the DH. All in all more smiles in them miles for a product that’s really easy to install and reap the benefits right away without having to tinker with spacing, gear removal, and extreme b-tension screw adjustments. If you’ve got a 10 speed free hub body and want to go 1X #justaddpraxis I plan to report back on longevity and wear and tear…stay tuned:)